Psy 456 - Death and Loss Midterm
In Gerbner's "mean world syndrome," the symbolic use of death contributes to 1. an irrational dread of dying 2. diminished vitality 3. diminished self-direction in life 4. an increased hoarding of weapons
1, 2, & 3
Which of the following are considered dimensions of thanatology? 1. psychological 2. anthropological 3. political 4. rational
1, 2, & 3
A mature concept of death involves 1. universality. 2. irreversibility. 3. empiricism. 4. causality.
1, 2, & 4
Agents of socialization include 1. family and peers. 2. school. 3. employers. 4. religion.
1, 2, & 4
Approximately how much has the average life expectancy in the United States increased since 1900? a. 5 years b. 15 years c. 30 years d. 45 years
30 years
In a study of nursery rhymes, approximately what percentage describe ways in which humans or animals die or are mistreated? a. 10 percent b. 25 percent c. 50 percent d. 75 percent
50 percent
According to the text, approximately what percentage of Americans are affiliated with a religious tradition? a. 60 percent b. 33 percent c. 50 percent d. 90 percent
90 percent
Research about death anxiety indicates that it tends to be higher among a. males than females b. older people than middle-aged adults c. blacks than whites d. religious people than those who do not characterize themselves as religious
blacks than whites
Jean Piaget's model of development emphasizes a. cognitive transformations. b. separation-individuation. c. the need for developing a sense of basic trust. d. psychosocial development.
cognitive transformations
According to Erikson psychosocial development depends significantly on developing a sense of identity and is linked to the individual's a. connectedness and independence. b. genes. c. cognitive transformation. d. knowledge base.
connectedness and independence.
What can be defined as "all that in human society which is socially rather than biologically transmitted?" a. Social structure b. Symbolic interactionism c. Institutional systems d. Culture
culture
The largest area of empirical research in thanatology is concerned with the measurement of attitudes toward death and dying and more particularly a. death anxiety b. hospice care c. suicide prevention and intervention d. the afterlife
death anxiety
What has been characterized as the largest area of empirical research in thanatology? a. NDEs b. death anxiety c. hospice and palliative care d. religious impact
death anxiety
Brief standardized statements following the death of an average citizen are called a. obituaries b. death notices c. thanatographs d. death dirges
death notices
Snuffed, ate it, wasted, and croaked are examples of a. death talk b. laments c. American language dirges d. monolithic variables
death talk
In traditional Hawaiian culture, mele kanikau may have been carefully composed or spontaneous and used a. at the signing of the will b. while sprinkling ashes in the Pacific c. during the funeral procession d. at the moment of death
during the funeral procession
What is the fallacy of making judgments about others in terms of one's own cultural assumptions and ideas? a. Social mishaps b. Antiestablishment c. Denial d. Ethnocentrism
ethnocentrism
Avoiding words like dead or dying, instead using phrases in which loved ones "pass away," the deceased is "laid to rest" and the corpse is "remains," is an example of a. death porn b. euphemisms c. thanatos d. keenings
euphemisms
Substitutions of vague words or phrases for ones considered harsh are a. euphemisms b. death porn c. the indicative voice d. linguistic deliberations
euphemisms
Hibakusha is a Japanese word meaning a. a town dedicated to eastern spirits b. the oil of society c. explosion affected d. cultural lag
explosion affected
What has been called the "oil of society?" a. music b. humor c. funeral rituals d. literature
humor
After someone dies, conversations about that person move from present to past tense. This form of speech is called the a. death narrative b. zone of possibility c. subjunctive voice d. indicative voice
indicative voice
In Erikson's model, the years from about six to the beginning of puberty correspond to what stage? a. Autonomy vs. shame b. Initiative vs. guilt c. Industry vs. inferiority d. Identity vs. role confusion
industry vs. inferiority
Even when curative treatments have ended, the effort to control circumstances around death and dying so that it comes out "right" is termed a. plastinated care. b. death anxiety. c. terror management. d. managed death.
managed death
All of the following tends to be an important influence on the development of children's attitudes toward death EXCEPT a. rising funeral costs. b. social network. c. children's literature. d. family.
rising funeral costs
In many traditional societies communication with the dead is facilitated by a a. medicine man. b. soothsayer. c. shaman. d. necroman
shaman
The Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) is a musical symbol of death found in a. LiLiszt's Totentanz b. Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol c. Copland's Appalachian Spring Suite d. Berlioz's Roman Carnival Overture
LiLiszt's Totentanz
What is the name of the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood or Granny Wolf? a. Fêng-shui b. Lon Po Po c. Kung Hei Fat Choy d. Koi Lai-Mai
Lon Po Po
What subcomponent of universality makes explicit the understanding not only that all living things die but also that each living thing will die? a. Personal mortality b. Inevitability c. Purposefulness d. Organicity
Personal mortality
When asked, "What makes things die?" a child responds, "You can die if you swallow a dirty bug." According to Piaget's theory, this child is probably in which developmental stage? a. Sensorimotor b. Formal operational c. Concrete operational d. Preoperational
Preoperational
Which of the following is NOT cited in the text as a journal in the field of death and dying? a. Illness, Crisis, and Loss b. The Carnegie Journal of Death c. Mortality d. Death Studies
The Carnegie Journal of Death
Media experts say that the "reality violence" on TV news began with coverage of the a. Kennedy assassination b. explosion of the space shuttle c. Vietnam War d. Los Angeles riots
Vietnam War
Which of the following is NOT an example of Holocaust literature? a. Warsaw Diary by Chaim Kaplan b. Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank c. Walking Skeleton by Richard Shaw d. Night by Elie Wiesel
Walking Skeleton by Richard Shaw
According to George Gerbner, the "mean world syndrome" describes depictions of death in the mass media as embedded in a structure of violence that conveys a. security and trust in the world b. an enhanced vitality and joy in life c. numbness and dismissal of death d. a heightened sense of danger
a heightened sense of danger
The text cites the lullaby "Rockabye Baby" to illustrate the point that a. some lullabies are improper bedtime stories. b. a number of lullabies contain messages about human and animal death. c. each ending in life is followed by renewal. d. singing lullabies is a relatively new ritual.
a number of lullabies contain messages about human and animal death
A "teachable moment" is one in which a. an opportunity for learning arises out of ordinary experiences. b. learning flows in a single direction. c. a parent creates a situation that encourages talking about death. d. a parent's questions, enthusiasm, and motivation guide the education process.
an opportunity for learning arises out of ordinary experiences
The modern scientific approach to the study of death is usually traced to a symposium organized in 1956 by a. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross b. Herman Feifel c. Jacques Choron d. Avery Weisman
Herman Feifel
Which of the following BEST describes a "cosmopolitan" society? a. Ideas and practices are forward thinking. b. Ideas and practices from other historical periods and cultures are valued and examined. c. Culture, identity, history, and language are guarded from change due to a strong sense of pride. d. Cultural complexity of a globalizing world is rejected.
Ideas and practices from other historical periods and cultures are valued and examined
______ has the longest life expectancy of countries worldwide a. Japan b. United States c. Switzerland d. South Africa
Japan
Which of the following best defines socialization? a. A process of creating visionary beliefs b. Uprooting and restructuring basic attitudes, values, or identities c. Learning and internalizing the norms, rules, and values of the society in which a person lives d. Ways of thinking, feeling, and acting
Learning and internalizing the norms, rules, and values of the society in which a person lives
In the study done by Helen Swain, what percentage of children said that death is unlikely or avoidable? a. 95 percent b. 10 percent c. 50 percent d. 66 percent
66 percent
Studies conducted in the early 1940s by Sylvia Anthony showed that children can give general explanations for death by what age? a. 5 years b. 7 years c. 9 years d. 12 years
9 years
Which theorist is associated with the developmental model that emphasizes changes in attitudes toward death during different psychosocial stages? a. Mark Speece b. Jean Piaget c. Erik Erikson d. Gerald Koocher
Erik Erikson
By what age do most children understand that death is a changed state? a. Preschool years b. Early elementary years c. Late elementary years d. Early middle school years
Preschool years
What term refers to the uprooting and restructuring of basic attitudes, values, or identities? a. Emerging adulthood b. Psychosocial transformations c. Resocialization d. Enculturation
Resocialization
__________ refers to strategies used to informally teach people about death and dying, involving an effort to change people's perceptions and behaviors. a. Tactical socialization b. Resocialization c. Cognitive transformations d. Initiative manipulation
Tactical socialization
What do some commentators call the new "porn star" of popular culture? a. The TV medical examiner b. Crisis text "hot" lines c. The corpse d. Managed death
The corpse
The first formal course in death education at an American university was held at a. University of Miami after the Cuban missile crisis b. University of Minnesota in 1963 c. Harvard University School of Medicine in 1960 d. University of Chicago in conjunction with the Association for Death Education and Counseling
University of Minnesota in 1963
Regarding a mature concept of death, which of the following is true about universality? a. Organisms that die cannot be made alive again. b. Death involves the cessation of all physiological functions or signs of life. c. All living things must eventually die. d. There are biological reasons for the occurrence of death.
all living things must eventually die
Themes of loss and death are heard in a. classical music b. american blues music c. laments d. all of the above
all of the above
In reviewing death anxiety research, Robert Kastenbaum says that it a. allows individuals to enjoy the illusion that death has been studied b. gives individuals an adequate picture of how death is perceived by human beings. c. is especially valuable in answering gender-related questions. d. is especially useful in answering questions of practitioners working with patients and bereaved people.
allows individuals to enjoy the illusion that death has been studied
Humanity received its name from the Latin root word humare, which means to a. stand upright b. bury c. think d. socialize
bury
What is an example of a homemade condolence? a. comfort quilts b. colored headstones c. cookies sent from the funeral home d. obituaries written by friends
comfort quilts
Thanatos, from Greek mythology, is generally understood as a response to the: a. invention of life and death b. reincarnation of dieties c. personification of death d. God of the afterlife
personification of death
What term do social scientists use to describe the phenomenon of societies falling behind in dealing with new challenges resulting from rapid technological and social change? a. Cultural lag b. Globalization c. Social lag d. Managed advancement
cultural lag
Which of the following is NOT a way in which humor functions relative to death? a. raises consciousness b. encourages togetherness c. discourages empathy d. defuses anxiety
discourages empathy
In Piaget's model, what phase is marked by formulating concepts that are abstract or symbolic? a. Symbol-abstract b. Preoperational c. Fundamental operations d. Formal operations
formal operations
Which of the following is an example of resocialization? a. Learning about death from a hospice caregiver b. Getting married c. Relocating to a new neighborhood d. Joining a new urban gang
getting married
According to Kellehear's description and social history of dying, the meaning of death a. remains stable amongst western cultures. b. is lucky for the community and unlucky for the individual. c. has changed over time. d. is unknown and misunderstood as a collective fate.
has changed over time
All of the following are musical expressions associated with death EXCEPT: a. lament b. keening c. dirge d. hautsang
hautsang
In traditional societies, whether grief is expressed by loud wails or quiet tears, there is a common tendency to a. shun the dead. b. never speak about the deceased. c. avoid prescribed funeral rites. d. have a deep respect for the soul of the dead.
have a deep respect for the soul of the dead.
Children who have had first-hand encounters with death tend to a. still believe in reversible death. b. avoid any mention of it. c. deny its existence. d. have a developmentally more mature understanding of death.
have a developmentally more mature understanding of death.
What are the two leading causes of death in the United States? a. suicide and Alzheimer's disease b. accidents and cancer c. alcoholism and stroke d. heart disease and cancer
heart disease and cancer
In 1963, the University of Minnesota a. held the first formal course in death education b. was the site of an on-campus shooting covered by TV reporters for the first time c. published articles about President Kennedy's assassination in the college newspaper d. held the first-ever candlelight vigil for a slain professor
held the first formal course in death education
Which of the following factors does NOT affect our familiarity with death? a. life expectancy b. geographic mobility c. medical technology d. political decision making
political decision making
Human concern for the dead a. is a social and funeral industry phenomenon b. predates written history c. began during the Lower Paleolithic period d. was first recognized by Luba of Africa
predates written history
Hannelore Wass observes that the study of death and dying will a. die out as people will be less interested in such obscure subjects b. become a pop culture phenomenon focused on the "hereafter" c. be in the hands of the faith community d. help individuals and societies transcend self-interest in favor of concern for others
help individuals and societies transcend self-interest in favor of concern for others
In discussing how people understand death, the term "noncorporeal continuity" refers to the idea that a. death occurs suddenly, without warning. b. death involves cessation of functioning. c. human beings survive in some form after the death of the physical body. d. legal issues must be addressed after death.
human beings survive in some form after the death of the physical body.
According to Jean Piaget, at what stage does a child learn to use language and symbolic thinking to understand the world? a. Preoperational b. Concrete operational c. Formal symbolism d. Assimilation
preoperational
In Piaget's model, the first two years of life are characterized as the a. preoperational period. b. incompetent to competent period. c. autonomy vs. shame and doubt. d. sensorimotor.
sensorimotor
According to Kastenbaum, what is defined as "the study of life with death left in?" a. clinical ethics b. anthropology c. thanatology d. death anxiety
thanatology
Research into death anxiety has been characterized by Kastenbaum as a. an express lane into the fear of death and dying. b. data which is impractical and generally useless. c. thanatology's own assembly line. d. a unitary and monolithic set of variables.
thanatology's own assembly line
What is the largest ongoing community arts project in America? a. Operation Gold Star Flag b. The AIDS Memorial Quilt c. The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall d. The Faith, Hope, Love Project
the AIDS memorial quilt
Lullabies and nursery rhymes often contain a. wolves who eat people. b. fairies who save people. c. themes of death and violence. d. supernatural powers.
themes of death and violence
Which of the following is NOT a musical expression associated with death? a. elegy b. requiem c. veil tale d. keening
veil tale
In reviewing the status of research and practice in thanatology, Herman Feifel points out that the a. fear of death is a monolithic variable b. human mind operates on various levels of reality or finites provinces of meaning c. human mind operates in an interdependent, not autonomous, manner d. conscious fear of death is unrelated to innate fears
human mind operates on various levels of reality or finites provinces of meaning
What is the form of speech acknowledging the reality of death while distancing us from the dead, for example, "He was fond of music?" a. empathic voice b. emphatic voice c. subjunctive voice d. indicative voice
indicative voice
In Erikson's model, the years from about 6 to the beginning of puberty is sometimes known as the a. elementary age. b. age of control and adequacy. c. industrial age. d. pre-pubescent precocious age.
industrial age
According to Erik Erikson's theory, during which developmental stage do children increasingly seek their own direction and purpose? a. Trust vs. mistrust b. Autonomy vs. shame c. Initiative vs. guilt d. Industry vs. inferiority
initiative vs. guilt
In Erikson's model of psychosocial development, in what period is bodily mutilation and disfigurement one of the death related fears? a. Initiative vs. guilt b. Anxious vs. confused c. Industry vs. inferiority d. Identity vs. role confusion
initiative vs. guilt
Suse Lowenstein's work Dark Elegy functions as a reminder that a. death is a dark figure b. life is fragile and survivors have to live with the loss c. classical and Christian symbols of death can be combined d. black is the color lining a casket
life is fragile and survivors have to live with the loss
Depictions of death in the mass media, which the symbolic use of death contributes to an "irrational dread of dying and this to a diminished vitality and self-direction in life" is referred to as a. mean world syndrome b. media overload c. communication depression syndrome d. secondary trauma
mean world syndrome
Referring to a deceased individual as "that one" is an example of a. medieval tradition b. name avoidance c. necromancy d. ultimate respect in primitive cultures
name avoidance
Deaths of the famous are likely to be announced on the newspaper's front page as well as via feature-length a. death notices b. narcocorridos c. elegies d. obituaries
obituaries
A feature length story on the death of someone famous is a/an a. mediamac b. obituary c. lossography d. journalist's life review
obituary
Which of the following is NOT an example of the dimension of sociological thanatology? a. response to disaster b. pain and symptom control c. disposal of the dead d. socialization of children
pain and symptom control
Epidemiologic transition is BEST defined as the a. shift in disease patterns characterized by a redistribution of deaths from the young to the old b. contribution of Americans' highly mobile life styles to making death less immediate and intimate c. change in cultural attitudes toward death as a significant determinant of how we live our lives d. trend toward more rapid and sudden death from epidemics
shift in disease patterns characterized by a redistribution of deaths from the young to the old
The acquisition of a mature understanding of death is part of the developmental process known as a. cognition. b. socialization. c. maturation. d. ethnocentrism.
socialization
Which of the following BEST describes the phrase "medical technology that seems to one person a godsend, extending life, may seem to another a curse?" a. people do not know how to manipulate machinery b. people do not believe in the technology c. the effect of new technology helps define death d. the effect of new technology involves personal and social consequences and trade-offs
the effect of new technology involves personal and social consequences and trade-offs
In his emphasis relevant to terror management theory, Ernest Becker addressed a. the need to control our basic anxiety and to deny the terror of death b. our belief that the word is generally not a terrifying place c. our inability to focus on threats, especially those that are political in nature d. terrorists' behaviors
the need to control our basic anxiety and to deny the terror of death
Which of the following are included in Ernest Becker's "four strands of emphasis" in terror management theory (TMT)? 1. The world is a terrifying place 2. There is always an underlying good versus evil struggle, and good ultimately prevails 3. Because the terror of death is so overwhelming, we conspire to keep it unconscious 4. The basic motivation for human behavior is the need to control our basic anxiety, to deny the terror of death
1, 3, & 4
The establishment of death studies, in modern times, can be traced to explorations of death by a. Saunders b. Becker c. Freud d. Kubler-Ross
Freud
In Erickson's model, approximately what age marks the beginning of the child's moral sense? a. Birth-2 years b. Preschool and kindergarten years c. Middle childhood or school age d. Adolescent
Preschool and kindergarten years
The story of Little Red Riding Hood in Chinese tradition differs from the Western version in which of the following ways? a. The wolf does not die in the Chinese version. b. The wolf eats the children in the Chinese version. c.There is no wolf in the Chinese version. d. The three children in the Chinese version work together as a group to kill the wolf.
The three children in the Chinese version work together as a group to kill the wolf.
Which answer best reflects children's understandings of John F. Kennedy's assassination? a. Older children did not express concerns about the impact of Kennedy's death on the political system. b. Young children worried about the appearance of the president's body and having to watch the news coverage. c. Younger children did not know who the president was and had no interpretation of his death. d. Younger children worried about the appearance of the president's body and the effects of the death on his family.
Younger children worried about the appearance of the president's body and the effects of the death on his family.
According to Ulrich Beck, a German scholar and observer of the "cosmopolitan society," the human condition in the present century a. is too dependent on medical technology. b. cannot be understood nationally or locally but only globally. c. is too concerned about diversity and cultural awareness. d. must engage in practical thanatology.
cannot be understood nationally or locally but only globally
In literature, the meaning of death is often explored as it relates to the individual as well as a. the author b. technology c. society d. the sixth sense
society
While more young people than ever claim no religion, there seems to be a growing interest in a. spirituality. b. friendship. c. near death experiences. d. social constructionism.
spirituality
The model of human development devised by Erikson focuses on a. self-identity decisions. b. stages of psychosocial development. c. academic operations. d. internalizing cultural norms.
stages of psychosocial development.
What concept describes opportunities for learning that arise out of unplanned or unexpected occurrences? a. Concrete operations b. Primary socialization c. Teachable moments d. Nonempirical ideas
teachable moment